Post by Dave Homewood on May 16, 2021 20:06:44 GMT 12
Mike Cater and I want to say a huge thanks to Craig Saunders of The Aviator Experience, and to Melanie and Kevin Salisbury for introducing us to Craig's awesome company. The Aviator Experience is all about Virtual Reality flight simulator flying.
Neither Mike or I had any real concept of what it was about, and we were totally blown away by the experience. You sit in a cockpit, put on a VR headset, and suddenly you're flying in a 360 degree world, with amazingly realistic sounds and sensations and movement.
I got to fly the Spitfire MK IXe first. Having actually had the great fortune to really fly in a Spitfire Tr9 a few years ago, I was amazed at how close this experience make it to the real thing. Genuinely. It lacked the smell perhaps but every other sensation was catered for perfectly. And there was the added bonus of guns to fire, plus this time I was in the front seat, and there's no CAA rules to worry about.
After a nice flight in the Spitfire, Craig switched me to the P-47D Thunderbolt. I found it more challenging to fly, and this time I was trying to keep formation with two other P-47D's. Considering I am not a pilot and do not really know what I am doing in a plane, the Spitfire came quite easily - the Thunderbolt did not. I eventually lost the two little friends somewhere over the Channel so I turned back to land, and there Craig pushed a button that made me bale out, and now I was floating down over occupied France in a parachute, watching my fighter plane spin into a French field!
Mike got to fly the P-51D Mustang till he was shot down by Craig in a dastardly Bf109. And then he switched to the full movement F-18 Hornet simulator. Holy cow, that was cool. People not in the cockpit can watch the forward view that they see on a TV screen (only a tiny chunk of the full experience they are getting) but it was cool to watch Mike formate at low level with an RNZAF Skyhawk, and a Tomcat. Then he did some rolls and aerobatics. And eventually he did a belly landing in a field. It was awesome!
The Aviator Experience is set up perfectly for parties, such as birthdays or stag do's. I can imagine it as the perfect event for aviation nuts like us. I really highly recommend it.
The Aviator Experience is situated at 142 Aerodrome Road, Tauranga, just a few doors down from the Tauranga Airport terminal. You can find more and book through www.theaviator.co.nz
One of the Spitfire simulators
P1230071 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
In this booth a father and son were flying an Iroquois and a Hornet, respectively
P1230072 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
The booth Mike and I flew in
P1230073 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Me in the Spitfire, left, and Mike in the Mustang
P1230076 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Me flying the Spitfire
P1230077 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Craig strapping Mike into the F-18 seat
P1230080 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Bystanders get to see the forward view of what the pilot is seeing on a TV, only a small amount of the 360 degree world they actually experience.
P1230083 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Mike flying the Hornet
P1230085 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
That grin said it all, and we both had it, all the way home!
P1230088 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Spitfire cockpit
P1230089 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Craig flying the Mustang, shooting up some Spitfires.
P1230092 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
Neither Mike or I had any real concept of what it was about, and we were totally blown away by the experience. You sit in a cockpit, put on a VR headset, and suddenly you're flying in a 360 degree world, with amazingly realistic sounds and sensations and movement.
I got to fly the Spitfire MK IXe first. Having actually had the great fortune to really fly in a Spitfire Tr9 a few years ago, I was amazed at how close this experience make it to the real thing. Genuinely. It lacked the smell perhaps but every other sensation was catered for perfectly. And there was the added bonus of guns to fire, plus this time I was in the front seat, and there's no CAA rules to worry about.
After a nice flight in the Spitfire, Craig switched me to the P-47D Thunderbolt. I found it more challenging to fly, and this time I was trying to keep formation with two other P-47D's. Considering I am not a pilot and do not really know what I am doing in a plane, the Spitfire came quite easily - the Thunderbolt did not. I eventually lost the two little friends somewhere over the Channel so I turned back to land, and there Craig pushed a button that made me bale out, and now I was floating down over occupied France in a parachute, watching my fighter plane spin into a French field!
Mike got to fly the P-51D Mustang till he was shot down by Craig in a dastardly Bf109. And then he switched to the full movement F-18 Hornet simulator. Holy cow, that was cool. People not in the cockpit can watch the forward view that they see on a TV screen (only a tiny chunk of the full experience they are getting) but it was cool to watch Mike formate at low level with an RNZAF Skyhawk, and a Tomcat. Then he did some rolls and aerobatics. And eventually he did a belly landing in a field. It was awesome!
The Aviator Experience is set up perfectly for parties, such as birthdays or stag do's. I can imagine it as the perfect event for aviation nuts like us. I really highly recommend it.
The Aviator Experience is situated at 142 Aerodrome Road, Tauranga, just a few doors down from the Tauranga Airport terminal. You can find more and book through www.theaviator.co.nz
One of the Spitfire simulators
P1230071 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrIn this booth a father and son were flying an Iroquois and a Hornet, respectively
P1230072 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrThe booth Mike and I flew in
P1230073 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrMe in the Spitfire, left, and Mike in the Mustang
P1230076 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrMe flying the Spitfire
P1230077 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrCraig strapping Mike into the F-18 seat
P1230080 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrBystanders get to see the forward view of what the pilot is seeing on a TV, only a small amount of the 360 degree world they actually experience.
P1230083 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrMike flying the Hornet
P1230085 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrThat grin said it all, and we both had it, all the way home!
P1230088 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrSpitfire cockpit
P1230089 by Dave Homewood, on FlickrCraig flying the Mustang, shooting up some Spitfires.
P1230092 by Dave Homewood, on Flickr
